Government remains committed to minimum unit pricing in wake of ECJ ruling

Health Minister Leo Varadkar has said he remains “committed to the introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing” following a European Court of Justice ruling on similar proposals by the Scottish Government.

The Department of Health said the judgment was “broadly in line” with the Advocate General’s opinion, which said minimum pricing may be justified if it is proportionate to the objective and cannot be achieved by other measures such as taxation.

Minimum unit pricing is one of the provisions included in the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill.

Mr Varadkar said: “The Bill completed second stage in the Seanad last week and I remain committed to the introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing and other measures in the Bill.

“I have asked my officials to study further the implications of the judgment in conjunction with the office of the Attorney General.”

He added: “We will continue to pursue this measure through the legislative process and remain convinced that Minimum Unit Pricing has a very important role to play in addressing this major public health challenge.

“Meanwhile, the Scottish legislation will now revert to the Scottish courts for a decision.”